Posts Tagged headwaters golf course

Unless you’ve been hibernating all winter, or living with monks in some Tibetan village (one with no power), you’ve most likely heard the news of England’s Kate Middleton marrying the United Kingdom’s heir to the throne, Prince William. I have to admit, I will certainly be tuned in on April 29 along with an estimated 2 billion other obsessed royal watchers. I actually prefer to think of us as shameless romantics. After all, I was one of the 750 million people tuned in when William’s mother, Princess Diana, married Prince Charles back in July 1981. Wow – almost 30 years ago. No wonder we’re more than ready for another royal event!

While we may not necessarily host royal weddings at Teton Springs Resort, we certainly know how to throw a mean nuptial! First of all, Teton Springs is located in one of the most spectacular places on earth, Teton Valley, Idaho. This resort can certainly accommodate indoor events, but save the cozy Headwaters Grille or the gracious Snake River Room for the winter wedding. With the jaw-dropping scenery in virtually every direction you look, an outdoor summer ceremony at Caddis Lake, the historic Rammel Barn or the Gazebo at Headwaters Park is the only way to go. With the Teton and Big Hole Mountains as your backdrop, who on earth needs Westminster Abbey?!

I’ve attended the small, intimate wedding at Teton Springs and also the large ceremony where we’ve shared this natural landscape with 400 plus people. The end result is the same – perfection! The friendly and knowledgeable staff consistently put together a seamless event and pays attention to all details, large and small. Everything needed to create the perfect celebration is available at this four season destination resort including gourmet catering and first class on-site hotel lodging and luxury mountain log homes. Families quickly scoop up these deluxe three, four and five bedroom homes that dot the golf course. They are surprisingly affordable and so top shelf.

Most couples tying the knot at Teton Springs also use this momentous occasion to spend time in the grandeur of this Yellowstone-Teton region. Their families and guests are intuitive enough to follow suit. As a lodging guest at this resort, the term “perfect day’ takes on many meanings – enjoying the 25 meter outdoor heated pool and hot tubs, mountain biking and hiking, basketball and tennis courts, fitness center, or reeling in a monster cutthroat in one of the resort’s stocked ponds (fly fishing instruction offered too – for all ages!). The full service Stillwaters Spa & Salon is an integral part of this destination resort experience and specializes in massage therapies and body treatments and also offers an entire menu of unique services for the entire wedding party, including the grooms! Lodging guests also enjoy privileges on the resort’s private 18 hole & par 3 Byron Nelson designed courses at the Headwaters Golf Club.

And that’s just the beginning! Nearby activities include whitewater rafting on the famous Snake River, fly-fishing expeditions, horseback trips into the Tetons, hot air ballooning, wildlife safaris, guided Naturalist hikes, day trips into Yellowstone & Teton National Parks, and mountainside music festivals. It’s also easy to get here from anywhere in the USA. Guests flying commercially can arrive in either Jackson Hole or Idaho Falls; it’s only a one hour’s drive from both airports. So, a word to the wise when planning your wedding at Teton Springs Lodge & Spa – estimate high when gauging how many guests will check off “yes” on the RSVP. After all, it’s more than a wedding; it’s a trip to paradise.

Say “I Do” in the Tetons. Unlike William and Kate, you may not be a royal, but at Teton Springs you’ll certainly be treated like one!

THAT’S A WRAP – IN SHEER ECSTASY THAT IS!

They need to call the “Hydraquench Body Wrap” something else. The name somehow just doesn’t do justice to atreatment I recently experienced for the first time at the Stillwaters Spa & Salon, located at Teton Springs Resort in Victor, Idaho. Maybe “Heaven on Earth Moisturizing Wrap,” or “I Can Now Die a Happy and Well Moisturized Woman Wrap,” or “I’ll take Hydraquench Over Botox Any Day Wrap!”

The moment of truth for me that I needed some serious skin help occurred a few weeks back while on a family vacation, when my sister gushed, “gosh, I love your new alligator sandals.” I was in fact barefoot. Hey, I’m not alone, right? Plenty of us have dry skin, especially those of us blessed with a high-altitude mailing address. The good news, we’re fortunate to live in, or vacation in, this incredibly beautiful mountain environment with its fabulous, humidity-free weather. The bad news, at least for some of us, this humidity-free weather.

If you’ve ever visited a Spa for any reason, chances are it was for a deep tissue or other therapeutic massage treatment. A massage isn’t even considered a luxury these days, but a necessity, like taking our vitamins or our daily walk. In truth, our massage therapist is as critical to our overall mental and physical well-being as the family doc; we just don’t always view it that way. Too bad.

The Stillwaters Spa & Salon at Teton Springs Lodge is truly an escape, even from a seemingly otherwise perfect day! Listen to this passage from their brochure: “Settled within glorious, alpine surroundings, the Spa at Teton Springs Lodge is created to provide you with infinity of sensory experiences within a tranquil retreat – a place you may never wish to leave.” Therein lies the problem, you don’t in fact want to leave – ever. In my prior visits to the Stillwaters Spa (for that massage of course), I’ve always been intrigued by the sheer number of mysterious and intriguing treatments listed in their spa material. One in particular caught my eye, the Hydraquench Body Wrap. To simplify, this is a treatment that slathers you in 100% whipped Shea Butters and then wraps you in a warm herbal cocoon. It only took me seconds after hearing Spa Manager Jen Walton describe this treatment before I was hooked. Sign me up, uh, I mean, butter me up!

I have always found the entire staff at the Stillwaters Spa & Salon to be delightful, competent and professional. One in particular, Jennifer Milloway, is the classic spa practitioner. With ten years spa experience under her belt, three of those years at the resort’s Stillwaters Spa, Jen enjoys a far-reaching reputation as a true craftsman in all things spa. She would be the one to introduce me to my first non-massage spa experience, encourage me to indulge in the senses with this particularly skin nourishing spa treatment, and the one to magically transform me from alligator girl. Sounds like exactly what the doctor would order!

I always believe in the element of surprise so I won’t give away all of the intricate details on what will happen during your Hydraquench Body Wrap but a few details are in order, and plus, I can’t help myself. You’re now in your fluffy, thick white robe and meet your therapist in the Zen Room (the name says it all!), the beautifully decorated and relaxing pre and post treatment room (remind me again why I ever have to leave here?!). In her Zen-like fashion, Jen describes the entire treatment to me, right down to the last morsel of the glorious details. Not that you’ll remember what she said. Once the treatment starts your entire life’s focus is on how terrific and relaxed you feel and neither one of you has to exchange another word (Jen doesn’t necessarily respond to your Oohs and Aahs).

Your hands are comfortably folded on your chest. You’re wrapped completely in an extremely warm cotton/linen mix sheath which has been brewing, literally, in a roaster of lavender, chamomile and rosehips tea bags. A second layer of plastic is applied, to retain the heat, and a third layer, a space blanket of sorts, is snuggly tucked around your entire body.

You are now officially cocooned but it’s only the beginning! For the next 20-25 minutes, while your skin is absorbing this entire mix of glorious herb infused butter…..

A lighter oil is applied to your face and then massaged into your skin with small, ice-cold stones (remember the flat, super-smooth stones perfect for skipping….) and topped off with a soothing massage to the neck.

Now the attention is directed to your feet but this time the stones are larger (even better skipping stones) and warm to the touch.

Ah, last but not least, is a cool refreshing spritz to the face of cool lavender and bergamot, an extremely enticing smell not normally found in nature.

The Hydraquench Body Wrap was sheer heaven; it was beyond relaxing, but also very therapeutic. My skin still feels nourished days later. Which reminds me, whatever you do, resist the urge to shower immediately after your Hydraquench treatment. It defeats the purpose of allowing the lingering benefits of all these goodies from reaching deep into your skin.

Also worth mentioning – in the Stillwaters Spa your personal degree of modesty is always respected and accommodated. For my money however, less always seems better in any spa when it comes to covering up (drapes are used on those most private of our body parts).

There’s no doubt that one of Teton Springs Resort’s premier offerings is the 5,000 square foot Stillwaters Spa & Salon, providing lodging guests, and day trippers, an incredible selection of services focusing on relaxation and rejuvenation. Stop by and check out the menu; this spa is so much more than just message therapy. More importantly, everyone deserves to feel this good! Call Stillwaters Spa & Salon @208.787.7250 or toll free 877.787.8757 or you can contact them here.